creative technologist

Joel Lithgow

I help people think visually

I turn abstract ideas into clear visuals. Whether it's a complex process, a new product concept, or a data story - I help make the invisible visible so teams can understand and build together.
view my work
Explore my recent projects and case studies

selected work

Recent projects and case studies

01
homepage redesign

CCA homepage redesign

data-driven redesign that solved user confusion about institutional identity, achieving a 33% reduction in confusion-driven navigation while improving conversion paths and engagement metrics

user researchgoogle analyticsstakeholder interviewsconversion optimization
33% reduction in confusion-driven navigation
02
creative webpages

multimedia digital storytelling

creating unique digital web experiences for the CCA editorial newsroom through innovative design and multimedia storytelling, delivering custom editorial content experiences

rapid prototypingfigmavev.designmultimedia storytelling
unique web experiences for editorial content
03
infrastructure migration

kubernetes to cloud run migration

modernizing deployment infrastructure by migrating from complex kubernetes setup to streamlined cloud run with automated ci/cd pipeline

kubernetescloud rundockerci/cd pipeline
zero-downtime migration with 70% faster deployments
04
ai-augmented development
AI-powered portfolio homepage screenshot showing modern design and smooth interactions

24-Hour AI-Powered Portfolio: From Job Posting to Deployment

When a dream job opportunity appeared with an urgent application deadline, I pioneered a collaborative AI-powered development workflow that allowed me to build a sophisticated single-page application portfolio in under 24 hours.

claude aistrategic planningrapid prototypingnetlify deployment
Portfolio successfully landed target position

how i work

I leverage advanced technologies and streamlined methodologies to accelerate the design process while maintaining quality and stakeholder alignment. By utilizing modern tools and efficient workflows, I eliminate translation gaps and enable instant collaborative feedback.

rapid prototyping

Direct-to-prototype with real content, utilizing advanced tools and efficient workflows to create high-fidelity designs that eliminate translation issues between wireframes and final products.

Real Example: Proactive Feature Development

Instead of waiting for requirements → presented working prototype at design meeting → gathered feedback and iterated in between other priority tasks → returned next week with updated version. Result: typical feature development timeline compressed from months to weeks.

live collaboration

Real-time stakeholder sessions with instant implementation and feedback loops, transforming traditional review meetings into collaborative creation sessions that align teams immediately.

Real Example: Marketing Campaign

Marketing team meeting → live Figma session → 10 ad variations in 1 hour vs. usual 3-day cycle. By implementing feedback in real-time, stakeholders could see their ideas come to life instantly, leading to better decisions and faster alignment.

continuous learning

Embracing unfamiliar technologies and pushing beyond comfort zones to deliver innovative solutions, turning knowledge gaps into growth opportunities through systematic learning and experimentation.

Real Example: Learning Cloud Technologies

Zero cloud experience → successful Kubernetes to Cloud Run migration in 3 weeks. By approaching unfamiliar technologies systematically and leveraging documentation, completed infrastructure modernization with zero downtime and 70% faster deployments.

ai research

Leverage AI tools for competitive analysis, user insights, and strategic documentation to accelerate research phases and uncover deeper insights faster than traditional methods.

Real Example: End-to-End Feature Development

Complete feature cycle: AI competitive research → strategic planning → design prototyping → code generation → automated testing in 24 hours. Traditional multi-week process compressed into a single day while maintaining quality through AI-augmented planning, design, development, and QA phases.

about me

I'm passionate about creating digital experiences that feel both innovative and human. My journey spans from visual design to full-stack development, giving me a unique perspective on how to bridge the gap between what's possible and what's meaningful.
5+
years experience
50+
projects completed
1
Art Degree
ideas per day

design

figmasketchadobe ccprototypinguser researchdesign systems

development

javascripttypescriptreactnode.jspythondocker

emerging tech

claude codemcp serverswebglanime.jsp5.js

let's create

Ready to bring your ideas to life? I'm always excited to collaborate on projects that push the boundaries of what's possible with design and technology.

Send me an email to discuss your project
Connect with me on LinkedIn
View my code repositories on GitHub
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